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Sale of country club seen by some as community loss

By Steve Ramirez/sramirez@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
11/23/2012 06:19:05 PM MST

LAS CRUCES — Some Las Crucens consider it the one that got away.
Those feelings of coulda, woulda, shoulda are apparent when they discuss the largest "green" space within the Las Cruces city limits, the 110-acre former Las Cruces Country Club. The property was sold earlier this month for $7.1 million, but closing isn't anticipated until early July.

An independent appraisal listed its value at approximately $7 million.

"It's sad," said Raeanne Tucker, of the sale to a group of local and regional investors. "There was so much benefit the city could've gotten if they'd only bought that property. I wish they would've been more persistent, more aggressive about it."

But Mayor Ken Miyagishima reiterated the city wasn't in a position to pay what the land was sold for. As he said on several previous occasions, the city wasn't cash-rich enough to put down that kind of money, and the only other alternative city officials could consider could have hurt residents' pocketbooks.

"We weren't going to buy it if it meant having to increase taxes," Miyagishima said. "I agree with a lot of residents that it would've been nice if the city could've bought it and at least maintained part of that green space. But the city just couldn't do it at that price."

The investors who recently purchased the property plan to invest in a mixed-use master-planned walkable village that would be focused on the medical and health-care industry. The property will also likely include some retail, residential and recreational uses.

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"Until we can see exactly what is going to be proposed, there's naturally going to be some skepticism," said Raymond Costales, a lifelong city resident.

"There's always going to be some kind of fear of the unknown. It was a nice, beautiful open space that we came to know and expect. But even those plans for it don't necessarily sound too bad. It still means there's going to be in-fill, and that's what a lot of people get at least a little sad about. The city (ownership) sounded like the best compromise to just about everybody; it's just sad it didn't work out that way."

When the country club ceased operations about a year ago, the city made a $1 million offer to buy the property. But the offer was rejected and NAI 1st Valley was hired by the country club's board to sell the property.

But who the developers are, and what plans they have for the property, will have to become public at some point in the future. The property is currently zoned R-1, which would only allow for one house to be built on the land. Developers will have to file the necessary paperwork with the city to seek a zone change, which would then become public record. The developers would then almost certainly have to appear before the Las Cruces City Council to provide added details and answer questions about their proposal.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6

County club chronology

— The Las Cruces Country Club was originally built in 1928, and consisted of six holes. An additional three holes were added in 1929, and another nine were added in 1953.

— In June 2006, a majority of country club membership voted to accept an offer from Las Cruces developer Philip Philippou to build a new golf course and country club facility on the city's East Mesa.

— In return, the 110-acre country club would have been transferred to Philippou. But the deal couldn't be finalized.

— In 2010, Las Cruces developer John Moscato, who took over the project from Philippou, offered two proposals to sell the country club to the city: one for $7.995 million, with a 36-month payment plan, and another for $8.26 million, with 120 months of payments, but that deal couldn't be completed either.

— A year ago, the Las Cruces Country Club closed and the property was put up for sale.

— Earlier this month, the country club's board of directors announced the property had been sold to local and regional investors.